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September 18, 2009

Hercegovacka Gracanica in Trebinje, Republika Srpska

From the city center of Trebinje, there is a 2 km road that winds up the hill Crkvina where you reach the church "Hercegovacka Gracanica" (the Gracanica of Hercegovina) a copy of the famous Gracanica Church in Kosovo and Metohija (here the post I made).

On the top of this hills there was already a christian church (probably from 6th century) in the place where now stands the new Gracanica.

The famous serbian poet Jovan Ducic (1871-1943) is burried there. When he died on April 7, 1943 he was buried in the Serbian Orthodox monastery of Saint Sava in Libertyville, Illinois (USA). He expressed a wish in his will to be buried in his home town of Trebinje, a goal which was finally realised when he was reburied here on October 22, 2000 in the newly built church. And so the grave of Ducic is now in the krypta of the Church.

The church can be seen from any place in the town of Trebinje, and it is said to be the most beautiful sacred place in Eastern Herzegovina.

There is a marvelous view of the whole town from here (here with my son and my sister-in-law)

For the building, the Church got a very generous donation from one of the richest Diaspora Serbs: Branko Tupanjac.

A picture fron the richly decorated interior

What made me smile a little is this fresko, it shows Jovan Ducic (for whom the church was built) and Branko Tupanjac (the sponsor) handling over a church building.

The Church Complex includes an amphitheater, the Vladicin (Bishop's) home, a gallery with icons, a summer garden, a library and a belltower.

Good Books

Lessons of Serbian Rural Architecture

NATO BOMBING TRAIL BELGRADE

my sketchbook

About Me

I'm an architect and I live and work in Zürich. Travelling to Serbia and being married to a Serbian infuses my work with the inevitable culture clash between the Swiss and the Serbian World. "Nothing against Serbia" is a collection of fascinating architecture, design and places of an amazing country and the bonus travel tips will help you to plan your trip to wonderful Serbia.